Director’s Message
Summer is upon us—the days are longer and our busy campus is quieter. I’m often asked if we get the summer off, and the truth is that our “summer” is quite short. We move almost immediately from the joy of the Honors Medals Ceremony and Commencement to the nervous excitement of first-year student orientation. When orientation ends in July, we scatter for a little rest and relaxation before diving head-first into annual reports and planning. This leads us squarely to August, which is consumed by preparing for the first-year students’ arrival at the end of the month. But in truth, I wouldn’t have summer any other way. I’m always a little restless without students, and there is something fitting about spending our time between semesters saying good-bye to students we are now so proud to call Honors alumni and welcoming the Class of 2017 to our Honors Family.
In my first year as Director, one of my favorite experiences has been connecting with Honors alumni. Some alumni were students I knew from my previous work in Honors. Others have become new friends. The common thread I’ve heard is a deep appreciation for the education and experiences that the Honors Program offered. And, of course, the Husky heritage is a tie that binds, too! A repeated theme in these conversations is a desire to expand and invigorate the UConn Honors Alumni network. I emphatically agree that this goal is a priority for us in Honors, and we’ll be working diligently on this effort.
I invite you to be part of this important endeavor. We need you—each and every one of you—to make the UConn Honors Alumni network robust. Summer is planning time for me and my staff, but I also hope you’ll take a few minutes this summer to plan how your involvement can help the Honors Program. Help comes in many forms—it’s donating your time by talking to a high school student you know about Honors at UConn; it’s serving the program by coming to campus and speaking at an event; it’s letting us know about an internship at your company that would be perfect for a current Honors student; and it’s financially supporting the work we do, in whatever amount you can. Many hands make light work, and the work we all do in Honors can light the future for our students and our university. I’m looking forward to working together!
Best Regards,
Jennifer Lease Butts, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice Provost, Enrichment Programs and Director, Honors Program
What’s New
2013 Medals Ceremony
Honors and University Scholars were recognized along with recipients of the Faculty Member of the Year Award and Distinguished Honors Alumni Award. Read more.
UConn Honors Develops UConn Professionals: Then and Now
When he came to UConn, Dr. Anthony Chiodo ’80 (CLAS-Honors), ’84 (MEDICINE) was not sure how he would get where he was going, but he knew he wanted to do something great. Read more.
Honors Engineer alum becomes expat technology leader
Phil Ventimiglia ’92 (ENGR-Honors) has been at the forefront of technology innovation for nearly two decades, working for industry giants such as Lockheed Sanders, IBM, Dell, and currently NCR Corporation. “I have spent my entire career developing new technologies and products. It is who I am. It is like breathing,” said Ventimiglia. Read more.
Honors Scholar brings Neag training to Central America
Sarah Stockmann ’10 (EDUC-Honors), ’11 (EDUC) came to UConn for the reputation of Neag’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education Program. And though she intends to eventually teach in an urban Connecticut school system, she chose first to begin her journey a little farther from home, in a small Nicaraguan community, as the town’s first environmental education Peace Corps volunteer. Read more.
Class Notes
Check out what your former classmates are doing in the Summer 2013 Class Notes!
In Other News
- Recent Graduate to Present Senior Design Project to NASA Engineers
- UConn Student Wins Prestigious Fellowship
- UConn Student Wins Prestigious Marshall Scholarship
- Four UConn Students Selected as National Science Foundation Fellows
- Science Students Win National Goldwater Scholarship, Honorable Mention
- Real World Preparation Characterizes Student Nurse’s Education
- Class of 2013: Addison Zhao
- Class of 2013: Spencer and Tyler Reese
- Class of 2013: Mairead Hynes
- Class of 2013: Celia Poirier
- Class of 2013: Frank Cervo
Spotlight on Giving
- Young Honors Alumni Fund sends Honors Council leaders to national conference
- Couple Supports Global Studies
- A UConn Medical Student First
If you would like information about giving opportunities to the Honors Program, please contact Katrice Sponzo (UConn Foundation, Leadership Giving) at (860) 486-1565 or ksponzo@foundation.uconn.edu.
Keep in Touch!
Let’s continue the conversation. Share your thoughts about this enewsletter and the direction of the program. Email us.